Colliery Disaster.

Manawatu Herald, 24 March 1898, Page 2

Colliery Disaster.

NEW SOUTH WALES. 14 MEN ENTOMBED. News has reached Newcastle from Charleston that an explosion occurred in the Dudley colliery, and 14 men are imprisoned in the mine. The explosion wrecked the main shaft, and nothing can be done in the way of rescue work until this has been repaired. There is really a very remote chance of rescuing the men. So great was the force of the explosion that all the machinery at the pit mouth was destroyed, and it will be some hours before the collapsed shaft can be

sufficiently secured to permit of assist" ance being sent below* The Dudley pit is situated near Red Head, on the coast south of Newcastle. Although credited with being one of the most gaseous mines, it was ako one of the best ventilated in the district. The shatt is 650 ft deep. Fully 300 men were usuaUttg|fJin- ,? ployed, but owing to slackness^Bpl^SS miners had been taking a coupfSlffW days' holiday, otherwise a gre^Lt nura* ' ber oi lives would have been lost.

The deputies and others who are constantly descending the pit did not notice any extraordinary smell of g^s t and not the slightest danger was apprehended. After the explosion the gas fumes poured out for some time. After repairs to the cage and guides were effected, the first exploring party descended. After getting dag *; a couple of hundred feet they iw to return owing to after damp. Later, when the ventilation improved, they got below and found the main workings blocked with debris. The pump* ing machinery at the bottom of the shaft, weighing many tons, was completely wrenched from its bearings and capsized by the force of the explosion.

Late in the afternoon the firs^>-k. ing party descended to remo^i^he debris. In the endeavour to %^ at the entombed miners it was found the stoppings used for directing the current air from the ventilating shaft had been carried away by the explosion, thus interfering seriously with the ventilation of the workings.

About ten o'clock the body of Dorrity was discovered two hundred yards from the bottom of the pit. The remains were much charred and mutilated. Deceased must have been in the vicinity of the explosion and was carried some distance along the workings. The bones of the body were badly broken. The accumulation of foul gas must be very rapid, due to some unknown cause.

The gas which caused the explosion was carburretted hydrogen. Early this morning the exploring parties reported the mine unsafe, tba root of the drives showing signs of caving in. Another effort was to be made at 6 a.m.

The body of Benson, pumpman, has been found near the main shaft considerably smashed about. The water is now becoming a serious obstacle to the relief party. It h gathering in the pit to a considerable extent. It is expected that the other bodies would be reached yesterday. The mine is so damaged that it will take months to put it right. The exploring party encountered a quantity of smoke, showing that the mine is on fire. One fire has been located, but whether any extended conflagration exists is not yet known. .

The body of Humphries was re* covered from the mine. — Press As. sociation.